Managing Great Expectations - Are You Qualified to Do Your New Job?
by Mark Chew
(Singapore)
Have you ever been tasked something to perform by your boss, and you feel that you may not have any experience to carry it out? Will you succeed or fail?
It all depends on how you play your hand, or even respond to the event.
On 7th April 2011, New York City Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, resigned after only 3 months on the job. It was a turbulent 3 months as parents heckled at her during board meetings; various deputy chancellors leaving because they didn't have faith in her, as well as facing plummeting poll figures.
You see, Ms Black's background was in publishing. She was chairman of Hearst Magazines - a "superstar manager," Mayor Michael Bloomberg had called her - but she had no experience in either education or government.
Nonetheless, she was backed by Bloomberg, himself from a publishing background too, to be the One to reform public education.This move could mean either massive success or massive failure, and her resignation probably meant that his political gamble had failed.
Here are 3 lessons learned from this.
1) Voice out Your Discomforts
One thing for sure is that, you can't hide your inexperience for too long. So be honest, and tell your boss upfront on your discomforts. He may have his reasons for getting you to do the job, even as an interim.
What is important is that you have at least told him your challenges. This would help set the tone and manage the expectations. This would be better than not telling him, and hide your weaknesses by smoking out the others. Your inexperience will show up fast.
Then be really prepared to learn fast on the job.
2) Be 100% Committed
This is very important because if the decision is still for you to take up the position, be 100% committed. You may need to live, eat, breathe, that particular task. And it may be best for you to under-promise, and over deliver. Without a 100% commitment or focus to the new job, you may not be able to learn a new skill fast.
That being said, don't be too hard on yourself. It would be ridiculous for you to be perfect when you never had any qualifications in say, branding and yet be tasked to take up the branding strategy in the business.
So any feedback that you get should spur you to improve yourself! In other words, you must be teachable. You need to learn from those around you fast enough so that you can make the right decisions.
Ms Black would be better off learning from her Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, and seeking more ideas from him.
3) Always Set Someone Up For Success
Could the Mayor have done more to "coach" Ms Black? Absolutely.
Being in a political system where approval ratings could make or break a person, I personally find it all worthwhile for Ms Black to think thoroughly before speaking or even acting. So comments like "class room overcrowding can be solved by birth control" shows how flippant her ideas may be. She may be trying to be witty, but she angered parents with this comment.
Ms Black's own children studied in exclusive private schools and this didn't go down well with the public because she wasn't able to understand the challenges faced at the grassroots level.
It was a political gamble that could be avoided from the start because Mayor's Bloomberg had at his disposal, other capable people who could carry it off. If he knew how to set others up for success, perhaps the gamble may have paid off.
That being said, the biggest lesson learned is that at least the public now knows that this would be Mayor's Bloomberg's final term, and they can now vote for better candidates.
Hopefully.
Chew Mark has over two decades of leadership management experience under his cap as a sports team captain, sports team manager and the greatest privilege to lead the finest men in the military as an commissioned officer. He is now a business developer and coach in Leadership Management and Human Resource. He is also the author of the book, "Discover Your Leadership Style".
Read more about his insights on Leadership Management: http://markliveaei.blogspot.com/
(c) Copyright - Chew Mark. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chew_Mark
Sign Up Today
On a monthly basis, I write to you to share with you about my thoughts, some great articles and resources on leadership as well and I know it will greatly benefit you.
Sign up today and download a free leadership ebook worth USD 9.95!
Leadership Resources
Here are just a few of the pages that offer useful leadership resources for you. You will become a more equipped leader with these:
Great Quotes on leadership that you can use or be inspired by!
Movies: A collection on awesome leadership movies to teach leadership
Team Exercises: Some team building game ideas for you
Books: Some great books you can buy to enrich yourself
Testimonials
Let me begin by saying my deepest thanks to you for visiting this website. Your words of encouragement never fail to inspire and push me further to build this website to be a blessing to more people.
I have only skimmed over the website and the e-book so far, but what I've read was surprisingly deep for a non-commercial and easily accessible product.
- John, Germany
Hello Yihan, I am very grateful for your book about leadership. It is very exciting and amazing. It's encouraging and it gives us all hope.
-Radovanka, Serbia
I was inspired by your writing and i have started putting those principles into practice.
- Mwanki Mercy
I am compelled to write you personally and say how excited I was to discover your website. Even though I have found many websites on leadership, yours stand out because of your Leadership Movies section.
- Emmanuel Lopez
Thank you for the article that you have been sending on true leadership; I really appreciate that. I aspire to be a good leader but it starts with me first. Thank you very much. - Eagles Audacity
I have stumbled across your website a few times in my research and I wanted to commend you for the work you are doing. Your site is a great resource for leaders!
- Johnny, United States
This site is amazing...thank you. I have been exploring today, and found so many great resources!
-Cheryl, Canada
Dear Yihan, thank you for your leadership website. I am digging into visionary leadership. Thanks for your insightful summary. There are lots of valuable resources around.
- Rudolf, South Africa
I like your website a lot. In fact, I’m undertaking Masters in Construction Management and your articles help a lot.
- Josephine Teo, Malaysia
Excellent site! Thank you so much for the time and effort you've put into compiling some of the best materials on leadership.
- Patricia, Germany
Hi Yihan, Thank you so much for your generosity sharing us about Leadership awareness, skills and development. God Bless.
- Linda, Philippines
Thanks a lot for wonderful articles on your site.it gave a lot of information in undertaking my management studies. Keep it up; good work. Thanks.
- Nicholas, Kenya
Yihan, your dedication to this site is very obvious and well done dear. Blessings be upon you; I shall in turn do my best to make a difference and be a part of this journey of true leadership with you.
-Leila, Kenya
To be honest, I don’t find a correct lexical to describe, how effectively I am using your site for my personal /surroundings development. Hats off to you!!!
-Dinesh Mani, India
Very helpful website really :) sometimes it’s better to be simple than complex. You give example which helps people like me understand what you want to asay.
-Tejas, India
I am grateful to God for giving us a great mind like you. You are an extraordinary individual with the wisdom & understanding to teach others to lead. You open our eyes and reveal the answers for our everyday lives with remedies we can use to enhance our lives and that of others. Way to GO! I pray God's continuous blessings on your family, friends and for the great work you is doing!
-Darwin, Belize
If you have feedback you would like to give, please visit Contact Me and I would love to hear from you. Really.
